
'jd^ 




^- 



[61] 






Cast of Thadeus Mayhew. 



January 6, 1819. 



Printed by order of the House of Representatives. 



/ Vi 



Report of the Commissioners appointed to examine and assess the dama- 
ges occasioned by the troops of the Ujiited States^ in the neghboT' 
hood of the city of ^ew Orleans, 

I'he Commissioners appointed by the quartermaster general of the 
Seventh Military District, in obedience to the annexed general 
order of maj. gen. Jackson, have the honor to 

REPORT: 

That in pursuance thereto, they repaired to the se^veral places 
hereinafter designated, in order to ascertain the nature and extent of 
the damages sustained by the individuals hereafter mentioned, which 
they found to consist of two distinct classes: one being for damages 
done to the real estate and improvements, the other for moveable 
property consumed or destroj'ed by the army. The first they con- 
sidered it their duty to estimate, and for that purpose carefully ex- 
amined the respective premises, requiring of the several claimants a 
particular description of the buildings that has been .^otailv destroy- 
ed, which were compared with such traces of their having existed as 
could be found, and the whole estimated in equity to the best of their 
knowledge. The other class of losses, consisting of provisions, fur- 
niture, wood, &c. consumed and destroyed by the army, but of which 
no regular proof could be furnished, the commissioners considered 
would be more properly presented in the form of attested accounts 
made out by the parties, accompanied with such evidence as they 
were in possession of, and which they have subjoined to this report, 

On the left bank of the Mississippi between Camp Jackson and 
the city of New Orleans. 

John Roarigues' country seat, on which the line of dipfence was 
established, the following buildings entirely destroyed: 



> fr- 



2 [6 1] 

A stable and coach house, valued at - - ^ S20C 

Four Negro houses - - - - 120 

A hen and pigeon house .^ - - - 100 

A kitchen • - - - - - 350 

Damage done his dwelling house • - . 30O 

ditto to an adjoining building - - - 150 

10 i acres of pale fence - - - - 220 

26 do post and rail ditto • - - - 317" 

A double gate and seven garden ditto • - 100 



J. Roarigues claims moreover for furniture, 
farming utensils, cattle, books, &c. taken away or 
destroyed, per his account herewith, No. 1, S 5.829* 

Widow Macarty's country seat, occupied as 
the head quarters of gen. Jackson. 

Damage done to the dwelling house • - 800 

The following buildings entirely destroyed: 

Two pigeon houses on brick pillars - - 250 

A shed SO by 1 8 feet ... - 300 

A coach house 14 by 20 - - -^ • 15© 

Two Negro houses - • - - 120 

A storehousQ 16 by 25 - - - - 300 

38 acres post and rail fence - - . ^60 

16 ditto pale ditto - - - • 560 

Furniture &c. per account No. 2 herewith » 1 ,219 
Mons. Languelles' country house, occupied as the 

head quarters of gen. Carroll. 

Damage done to the dwelling - - - 300 

ditto to a store house - - - - 25 

The following property entirely destroyed: 

A corn house or store - - - . 300 

An out house 27 by .25 • - , 300 

A kitchen and small house adjoining - - 150 

A bake house - - - « - 350 

A stable - . - . - - 50 

18 acres pale fence - - - . - 385 

32 do post and rail ditto - . - 390 



Cattle, provisions, &c. per account No. 3 - g 2,848 
John Pettit, brickmaker. 
The following property entirely destroyed: 

A dwelling house 20 by 60 - - - 1,800 

A brick kiln shed 56 by 100 I . . 1,000 

Two tempering beds and utensils - - 450 

Three Negro houses - • - - 300 

A kitchen and hen house - - « 100 

Ten acres pale fence ,, ^ . . 214 



lySST 



2,940 



2,2jO 



3,864 



[61] 

Furniture, fire-wood, bricks, &c, per the account 

herewith. No. 4 - . - . 1,786 
Joseph M'Neel's country house 

Damage done to the dwelling - - - 195 

A kitchen des,troyed . . - . 350 

A stable and corn house - • • 180 

A privy - • - - - - 65 

A Negro house - - - . 40 

A large double gate - - - - 60 

Asnnallditto - - - - • 25 

A bake -oven torn down - - - - 20 

21 acres pale fence - - • - . 4.50 



Col. S. B. Davis's country house 

Damage done to the dwelling - - - 195 

The following buildings destroyed: 

A shed 50 by 12 • - - - . 100 

A kitchen 12 by 15 . - - . 200 

A Negro house 12 by 16 - - - - ^O 

A hen house - - - - . 60 

3^ acres pale fence - - - - - 75 

11 do post and rail ditto - - . j[40 



1,385 



830 



Mons. De la Chenaye, the tenant on this last 
place, claims for cattle and poultry, consumed by 

the army, per account 5 - - • 286 

Madame Deslondes' country house, occupied 
as the general hospital. 

Damage done to the dwelling ... 500 

ditto to a store • - . , 150 

A kitchen 24 by 14 feet destroyed - - - 400 

A coach house 20 by 10 ... 120 

Five Negro houses - - - . 400 

A large double gate cut down • - - 60 

28 acres post and rail fence • • . 343 

12 ditto pale do - - • 254 

2,227 

Provisions, &c. per account No. 6 - - . 532 

Larunte Segur, the former proprietor of the 
last mentioned property, claims for a quantity of 
spars said to have been on the place at the tinie of 
the invasion, and to have been used for the forti- 
fication per his account No. 7 - • - 3748 

Mons. Delery's farm. 
53 acres 5 rail fence destroyed - - * 650 

20 do 4 do do do - - - 204 

4 do pale do do - • - - 87 



4 [61] 

Brick-kiln fence - - - - 2S; 

Roof of a brick-kiln shed destroyed - - 300 

Two Negro cabins - - - - 5Q 

Damage done to the sugar house - - - 72 

Seven garden gates - - - - 150 

Three tennpering beds for brick making - - 330 

Provisions and cattle, per account No. 8 - 2,285 

Madame Pornas' farm. 

A brick kiln shed 50 by i2 destroyed » - 600 

Five Negro cabins - • - - 250 

Three tempering beds for bric'imaking - - 291 

Damage done to a store - - - • 36 

75 acres post and rail fence . - - 915 

30 do pale do - - - - 642 



Provisions, &c. per account No. 9 - - 1,387 

Solomon Prevost's farm. ^ 

A gardiner's house destroyed - - - 300 

80 acres post and rail fence - - .» ggo 

26 do pale do ... 506 

5 gates and fastenings - - - - 120 



L. H. Guerlam's country house, 

26 acres post and rail fence - • - 317 

2^ pale ditto - . . 53 

Damage done to a houae - - - 50 



1,8€ 



ir 



2,754^ 



1,966 



Hay, corn, h.c. per his account No. 10 - - 5,411 

Madame Dupre's farm. 
A saw mill torn down to erect the second line 

of defence ----- 4,000 

A brick-kiln shed No. 1 - - - 1,000 

ditto 2 - - - - 550 i 

ditto 3 - - - 400 

Two tempering beds for brick making - - 200 

Fourteen Negro houses - - - - 1,150 

Seven gates and doors - - - 56 

Dam'».ge done to the dwelling and out-houses 200 

97 acres post and rail fence - - - 1,183 

12 do pale ditto - - . 256 



8,995 



420 



Fire wood, garden stuff, &c. per account No. 11 1,103 50 

Francis Duplessis's country house. 
:ao acres post and rail fence - . • • 122 

%Q loads hay, per account No. 12 • - 160 



141 



654. 

200 



[61] » ^ 

J. L. B. Macarty's plantation, intersected by 
'^e third line cf defence. ^^ 

Fences destroyed - - ",.,," 

Damages sustained per account No. 34, which the 
commissioners do not think come withm the 
view of their duty to appraise. 

Madame Montreael's plantation, intersected 
likewise by the third line of defence. 
Fences destroyed - - " . " • 

Damage sustained per account No. 35, same situ- 
ation as the foregoing - - - 8,700 
Corporation of the city of New Orleans, 
damages to their property, occupied by a troop of 
horse, per account No. 13 

Mons. Cervillier. 
Damage done to his house - - - 

On the left bank of the Mississippi above the 
city of New Orleans, and in the neighborhood of 
generals Carrol and CofFe's camps. 

Mons. Ducro's plantation. 
13 acres post and rail fence destroyed - - 160 

Damage done to the dwelling and sugar house 100 

^ . 260 

Robert Avart's plantation. 
Damage done to his dwelling house - - 100 

Provisions, &c. per his account No. 14 - 2,002 

Madame L. Avart. 
2 acres post and rail fence - - - 25 

Hay, oats, &c. per account No. 15 

Mons. Pierre Laurent. 

25 a>res fence - - " - ' ^ ^^^ 

Oats, hav, &c. per account No. l6 - - 1,288 

Widow Robert Avaat's plantation. 
95 acres post and rail fence - - - 1,160 

Provisions, wood, &c. per account No. 17 

Widow Rousseau. 
10 acres post and rail fence , - - 122 

Provisions, wood, &c. per account No. 18 - 941 

On the right bank of the river, at and near 
gen. Morgan's camp. 

Mons. Le Febre, gardiner. 
Garden stuff, poultry, &:c. per his account herewith 

No. 19 - - - - 1,657 

John Caslanedo's plantation. 

9 acres post and rail fence - - - ^^ 

Damage done to his house used as a hospital - 25 

1 i acre pale fence - • ^ . - 36 

^ , 171 



f$ 



[61 J 



\* 



Garden stuff, hay, wood, &c. per his account 
herewith No. 20 - - - 

Maurice Bertrand, 
Provisions and hay, per account No. 21 

P, and B. Jourdanes' sugar plantation des- 
troyed bj?- order of gen. Jackson. The following 
buildings entirely destroyed by fire set to them: 
A dwelling house 70 by 20 feet 
A kitchen - . - • 

A sugar house mill, &c. 
A saw mill - . - - 

A sugar refinery . - - 

A rice mill - 

A large grange . - - 

A large store house - • - 

A coach house - - - 

Two fowlhouses - - - • 

Two pigeon houses • - - 

Ten double Negro houses 
A small store house - - , 

96 acres post and rail fence - - • 

13 do pale do « • • 

A fcrop of sugar and molasses in store when burnt, 
farming utensils, &c. per act. herewith No. 22 
Mons. Caselard. 
A saw mill burnt - • - 

Carpenter's tools, &c. contained therein, per ac- 
count No. 23 - - • 
Mons. Borsgervaies. 
A saw mill burnt - - • • 
26 acres fence - .. - • 

Sundry articles taken or destroyed by the army, 

account No. 24- - 

Mons. Duverge, opposite the city. 
A brick kiln on the margin of the river, destroyed 

for the purpose of erecting a battery. 
A brick kiln shed - • - - 

Roof, &c. of the kiln - « • . 

Two tempering beds . - • - 

Damage done to the levee andthe furnace 

Camp Bertonniere on the Chef Menteur road 

Mons» Bertonniere. 
24 acres post and rail fence - . . 

Labour to 611 up the ditch on his plantations ° 



2,924 
301 



4,600 

500 

12,000 

4,000 
150 
400 
400 

1,800 
100 
140 
200 

1,500 
150 

i,in 

278 



8,978 



2,438 

4,000 
208 



1,046 



700 

1,000 

200 

2O0 



292 
100 



26,789 



G,000 



4,20« 



2,100 



392 



[61] 7 

Francis Dreux. 
10 acres post and rail fence - - ^ 122 

Madame Leafroy Dreux. 
Cattle killed on her farnn, per her account here- 
with No. 25 - - - - - 1,500 
J. B. Colson. 
5 acres post and rail fence - - - 61 
2 cart loads hay, per account No. 26 - - 16 

Executors of Dan. Clark. 
20 acres post and rail fence - • - - 244? 

P. Gueno. 
4 acres post and rail fence - - - - 50 

Bayou St. John. 
Mons. Cousin. 
18 acres post and rail fence - - - - 220 

Madanne Allard. 
4 acres post and rail fence - - - - BO 

Cattle, &c. per her account No. 27 - - -372 

Alexander Milne. 
A bake house on the Bayou opposite fort St. John 500 

A house on the bank of lake Ponchartrain near 
the fort, destroyed by order of the mili.tary 
commandant - - - « - 2,000 

Damage done to a house occupied by a picket 

guard, in advance of the fort - • 550 

3,050 

The New Orleans Navigation Company. 
For materials taken for the use of the fort at 

Bayou St. John, per account No. 28 - 438 

Mons. Joublan, superintendant of the Naviga- 
tion Company. 
For a billiard table destroyed - - - 180 

A. R. Menard. 
Damage done to his house in the suburb De La 
Course, used as a guard house for a troop of 
cavalry _..-__ 1 39 

P. L, Le Ray, claims compensation for a 
Negro, a cart, and three mules, taken into requsi- 
tion, the former died in the service, and the cart 
and mules were lost, per affidavit and account 
No. 29 - ... - 795 

t Michel, Deirell, & Co. 
Claim for damages done to two boats whilst ia 
the service, per account No. 30 - - 213 * 

Francis Leirche, a freeman of color. 
Claims compensation for a negro taken into re- 
quisition and killed at the lines, per affidavit 
and account No. 31 - - - - 600 



8 [61] 

John Mouchon, claims compensation for two 
mules killed in the service of the United States, 
per account No. 32 - > - - 14,3 

La Barre La Contoure, claims compensation 
for two mules killed at the lines, per account No. 33 146 

Soyxereys & L'Assize, claim for a boat des- 
troyed by order of major Gordon, per cereificate 
annexed. 

Le Chev. De Peytavin, claims for two mules 
lost in the service of the United States. 

In addition to the foregoing, a third and distinct class of claims 
has been presented to the board, consisting of losses and damages 
sustained by individuals, whose property was alternately in posses- 
sion of the American and British armies, and as it would be impos- 
sible for the commissioners to discriminate between the damage oc- 
casioned bv either, they have subjoined hereto the respective claims, 
for the consideration of the authority to whom the present report may 
be referred, and which are as follows: v 

Ignace Delino alias Chalmet, the proprietor of a sugar estate 
adjacent to gen. Jackson's camp, between the American and British 
lines, the buildings of which were fired and blown up by order of the 
American commander, as appears by the documents annexed to the 
account marked A. 

Mons. A. Cruzat, son-in-law of Mons. Chalmet, residing in his 
house, for his furniture, &c. destroyed per account B. 

Mons. P. Duverge, son-in-law of Mons. Chalmet, residing in 
his house, for his furniture? Sec. destroyed, per account C. 

Mons. Bienvenue, a sugar planter, next adjoining the above, his 
house occupied by the enemy and materially injured by the shot from 
our line, per his account marked D, 

CoL P. D. de la Ronde, a sugar planter adjoining Mons. Bien- 
vtnu, per account E. 

P. La Ccste claims for 
20 acres Plant cane, 
50 acres fence destroved. 

Major gen. Villere, 
Claims for damages stated to have been done by the American 
army, per his account and vouchers marked F. 

Mons, Jumonville, 
For ditto ditto ditto per account G. 

Messrs. Baily and Rinker, planters at the English Turn, per ac- 
count and vouchers marked tl. See No. 1886 Mr. Lee's scted. 2566„ 

Thadeus Mayhew, proprietor of a plantation and saw mill on 
the right bank of the river, his account and vouchers marked I. 

Closed at New Orleans, this eighteenth day of November, one 

thousand eight hundred and fifteen. 

RICHARD RELF, 
PR. FOUCHER, 
BENJ. MORGAN. 



[61] 



1. 



Estimate of losses sustairied on Behidere plantation^ belonging to 

Thadeus Mayhew^ situated about six miles below the city afJ\*ew Or^ 
leans on the right bank of the river ^ and within the dmeriean lines, 
in consequence of the invasion by the British, 

Loss by depredations of the Americaa troops. 

3 Beds and bedding - - - - - S 60 

Crockery ware destroyed - - • - 20 

6 chairs -- - - - - -15 

3 tables - - - - - - 18 

1 writing desk - - - - - - 20 

A quantity of clothing and 2 trunks - - - 150 

ditto kitchen furniture - - - - 20 

12 spades ------ 30 

12 hoes - • - - - • -24 

4 axes ------ 8 

1 chest of carpenter's tools complete - - • loo 

2 lanterns - - - - - • 3 50 
6 lamps - - - - • - ' 5 75 
^ barrel molasses (16 galls.) - • - 12 

12 pound of coffee - - - - - 4 50 

50 do bacon - - - - - 6 25 

1 pair steel yards • - - - - 8 

1 jug lamp oil •!• - - - 3 50 

15 cord of wood - - - - - - 45 

1000 pickets taken from fences, and labor replacing do. 150 
6000 feet of plank burnt and destroyed by guards station- 
ed near the mill - - - • . 240 
2000 slabs ------ 80 

Damage done to the house and out-buildings - - 200 

2 plantation boats - - t - - 50 



1273 50 



Loss by whom uncertain, in consequence of setting fire 
to the bridge, saw mill, and lumber on the morning ' 
of the 8th of January, 1815. 
Saw mill with all the utensils belonging thereto - 6.0D0 

200,000 feet of boards at g 4 - - - - 8,00(> 

12,000 do of scantling, at S 5 - - . 600 

A bridge across the canal of said mill - - - 200 

li,800 



10 [6l] 

State of Louisiana^ \ 
City of^av Orleans. ) 

Before me, John Lynd, Esquire, notary public in and for this 
city, duly comttiissioned, personally appeared Luther Howe, over- 
seer of the plantation of Thadeus Mayhew, of this city, merchant, 
near this city, vho having been dulv sworn, declared that to his 
knowledge, the several articles specified in the preceding account, 
were taken away or destroyed as therein declared; that he believes 
the value of each article fs fairly rated, and that to the best of his 
knowledge the estimate of the value of the mill, scantling, boards, 
and bridge, is just and true. In faith whereof, the deponent having 
hereunto signed his name, I sign these presents also, and affix my 
seal of office, at New Orleans, 13th May,18l5. 

JOHN LYND, JVV.Pw^. (l. s.) 
L. HOWE. 



State of Louismna, 

This day, before me, Augustus Macarty, mayor of the city of 
New Orleans, personally appeared Teter Long, master carpenter of 
said city, who deposes and declares, that he is well acquainted with 
the value of cypress lumber of all descriptions and has been long in 
the habit of dealing in the same; that shordy after the evacuation of 
Louisiana by the British army, cypress boards or plank, of inch and 
a quarter thick, (of which thickness they are always sawed in this 
country French measurement,) were worth 5 cents the foot and up- 
wards, which price this deponent frequently paid for the same du- 
ring the spring and summer of eighteen hundred and fifteen, and that 
other cypress lumber bore a price in proportion at that time, and that 
cypress boards are now worth six cents per foot, and are always 
worth double the price of northern pine boards in this market. De- 
ponent further declares, that he was frequently at the saw mill oi 
Thadeus Jvlayhew whilst in operation, knows that three hundred 
thousand feet of boards was sawed there annually, and that said mill 
might have been rented for twenty-five hundred dollars per annum, or 
upwards; that from the best of deponent's knowledge ana belief, said 
saw mill could not have been rebuilt under six thousand dollars, and 
he. this deponent, would not have undertaken to rebuild it for that sum. 
During the war cypress boards were worth four cents the foot. 

PETER LONG. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, at New Orleans aforesaid, 
this 9th day of October, 1818. 

AUG. MACARTY, J^Iayor.. 



[61] 



11 



State of Louisiana. 

Personally appeared before me, Augustus Macarty, mayor of the 
city cf New Orleans, Wm. C- Withers, who deposes and declares, 
that cypress boards, of inch and a quarter thick, the usual thickness 
they are sawed in this place, French measurement, were worih from 
lour to four and a half cents the foot during the late war; that he was 
at that time proprietor of a steam saw mill, and so continues to be; 
that he supplied government with very large quantities at those pri- 
ces, never less than four cents the foot; that immediately after the 
evacuation of this country by the British, lumber was in great de- 
mand, and the price was from five to five and an half cents the foot by 
the quantity, as this deponent's bills, paid by the agents of govern- 
ment, will abundantly show. 

W. C. WITHERS. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, at New Orleans, this 27th 
day of October. 1818. 

AUG. MACARTY, Mcnjor. 



Be it known, pursuant to two laws of the United States, the one 
j'ntitled *'An act to authorize the payment for property lost, captured, 
or destroyed by the enemy, while in the military service of the Unit- 
ed States, and for other purposes," passed on the 9th day of April, 
in the year 1816, and the other, entitled "An act to amend the act 
authorizing the payment for property lost, captured^ or destroyed by 
the enemy, while in the military service of the United States, and 
for other purposes," passed on the 3d day of March, 1817, that I, 
Richard Bland Lee, duly appointed by the Prcbident of the United 
States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, Commis- 
sioner under the first recited act, reposing special confidence in your 
honesty, ability, and diligence, have constituted and appointed, and, by 
these presents, do constitute and appoint you, Edwin Lorrain & John 
M'Donogh, gentlemen, commissioners (any one or more of you to act) 
to take the testimony of such witnesses as may be brought before 
you or any of you, either by your own summons or orherwise, an oath 
or affirmation in due form, being first administered by either of you, 
relative to a certain claim of Thadeus Mayhew, against the United 
States; a particular description of which is containtrd in the annex«^d 
schedule, conforming yourselves in all respects to the rules and di- 
rections hereto attached. And all testimony so taken by you, you shall 
certify under your hands or hand, (as the case may be,) and having 



J2 [61] 

^laly execu*ed the duties required by this commission, you shall re- 
turn the same, under a sealed cover, by mail, with a report of all your 
proceedings thereon, to this office, on or before the first day of De- 
cember next. 

Before you proceed to act, you will take "an oath before some 
officer authorized by law to administer the same, ^ that you will fait h'* 
fullif and impartially execute the duties assjgned to you by this commtS' 
sion;^^ a certificate of which, from the officer administermg the same, 
you will transmit \yith the report of your proceedings. 

In testimony of the premises, I, the said Richard Bland Lee, 
hath, to these presents, at my office in the city of Washington, affixed 
imy signature, this 26th day of March, in the year 1817. 

RICHARD BLAND LEE. 



Buks and directions to the Commissioners, 

1. You will summon before you and examine the following 

witnesses on the part of the United States, namely; — — 

and such other persons as you may believe can testify as to the sub- 
ject claimed, favorably to the interests of the United States, generally 
as to their knowledge of the matter in controversy, and as to the 
character of the witnesses produced by the claimant, if yo shall deem 
this precaution necessary. 

2. You shall examine the witnesses produced by the claimant; 
but no testimony mu'^^t be taken but in conformity to the rules pres- 
cribed by the notice from the office of the 3d of June, 1816, referring 
for your direction to the class of cases to which the particular claim 
before you belongs. A copy of which notice is therefore herewith 
inclosed. 

3. Every witness examined must, in the first place, swear or 
affirm, that he has no interest directly, or indirectly, in the claim. 

4. In your report, if you have doubts concerning the credibili- 
ty of the witnesses, derived from their general character, or other 
circumstances, you must state the grounds of such doubts. 



SCEDULE. 

Thadeus Mayhew claims payment for damage done by destruc' 
tionofhis property by the British army, during their invasion of 
Louisiana in the years 1814 and 1815, in consequence of his houses 
being used as military depots, under the military authority of the 
United States, and in consequence of various articles having been 
taken for the use and subsistence of the American troops, $ 14,600* 

This claim falls under the fifth and sixth classes of cases. 

R. B, LEE. 



i;6i] 



13 



Pursuant to a commission to this effect, to us, the undersigned 
commissioners, directed by Richard Bland Lee, Esquire, from the 
office of claims, for property lost, captured, or destroyed, during the 
late war, we have caused to be examined the claim of Thadeus May- 
hew, to payment of fourteen thousand six hundred dollars, for dam- 
age done by destruction of his property by the British army during 
their invasion ot Louisiana in 1814 and 1815, in consequence of his 
houses being used as military deposits under the military authority 
of the United States, and for property taken for the use and sub- 
sistence of the American army. 

1st. Before proceeding to act, we have appeared before the 
honorable Dominick A. Hall, Judge of the District Court of the 
United States, for the Louisiana District, and being severally sworn, 
have taken on our respective parts an oath, faithfully and impartially 
to execute the duties assigned to us by this commission. 

EDWIN LORRATN, 
JOHN M^DONOGH 

Sworn to and subscribed at New Orleans, 
this 1st day of May, 1817. 

Before me DOM. A. HALL, 

District Juage Z7, S, Louisiana District. 



2d. Appeared before us the claimant, who being sworn by an 
oath in due form, first administered by Edwin Lorrain, declares that 
he hath received nothing on account of this claim from any officer, 
agent, or department of the government of the United States; that 
the claimant has received no other certificates than those now pro- 
duced, which were formally transmitted, substantially as they are, to 
Samuel H. Harper, Esq. to be presented at the Commissioner's of- 
fice, and also one signed by Benjamin Morgan, Richard Relf, and 
Pierre Fouche, forwarded by them to the War Department, all given 
in support of this same claim. 

THADS. MAYHEW. 
Done before us, 

Edwin Lorrain, 
John M'Donogh^ 



3d. Appeared David B. Morgan, a wTtwess produced on tlie 
part of the claimant, who being sworn by an oath in due form, first 
administered by Edwin Lorrain, deposeth and saith, that during tb^ 



14 [61j 

invasion of Louisiana by the British, he was brigadier general of 
the Louisiana militia, that on the morning of the Sth day of January, 
1815, and sometime previous thereto, the saw mill, dwelling house, 
and out buildings, belonging to the claimant, situated about six miles 
below the city of New Orleans, on his plantation called the Belvidere, 
on the right bank of the Mississippi, and one mile or thereabouts be- 
low the main entrenchment of a division of the American army, com- 
manded by the deponent as brigadier general as aforesaid, acting un- 
der the orders of major general Jackson, and in the vicinity of seve- 
ral batteries erected and commanded by commodore Patterson, of 
the United States navy, was occupied by a detacement from the de- 
ponent's command and by his orders as a militarv post, as a deposit 
fbr military stores, and as barracks for the military forces of the 
United States, that huts were erected there by said detachment with 
the lumber belonging to the claimant and taken from said sawmill, 
which lumber, as well as other combustibles on the plantation, was 
freely used as fuel for the army; that the said saw mill belonging to 
the claimant, together with the wooden bridge which crossed the 
canal on which the saw mill stood, as also a large quantity of lumber, 
consisting of cypress boards, plank, timber, and slabs, were on the 
said 8th day of January, and during the retreat of the enemy, set on 
fire and thereby totally destroyed; that to the best of the deponent's 
knowledge and belief, the said property was so set on fire and des- 
troyed by the enemy; and inconsequence of the said saw mill having 
been occupied by the American army in the manner aforesaid; and 
to preveni the same from beingso again occupied, or the lumber from 
being made use of for platforms of batteries, fortifications, huts, or 
other military uses; that during the stay of the deponent's forces on 
the claimant's plantation, every thing was taken which the place 
could afford, and which was thought necessary for the sustenance 
or comfort of the American army; that he knows the claimant's loss 
to have been a very serious one, and from all the circumstances 
in his knowledge, supposes that it might have gone to the amount 
charged by the claimant. 

DAVID B. MORGAN. 
X. HOWE. 

The deponent being interrogated by the commissioners, says, 
that he once before gave a certificate to the claimant, similar in its 
purport to the present, and taken before the mayor of New Orleans, 
on the 5th day of November, 1816, and that he hath never given any 
other certificate on the subject. 

DAYID B. MORGAN 

Done before us, 

Edxvm Idorrain, 
John J\PDonogh, 



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15 



4thly. Appeared before us, commodore Daniel T. Patterson, 
of the United states' navy, a witness produced as well on the part of 
the claimant, as by a summons from these commissioners on the part 
ot the United States, who certifies in the manner and form following, 
to wit; 

I do hereby certify, that the dwelling house and out houses of 
Thadeus Mayhew, were occupied as set forth in the preceding depo- 
sition of gen. Morgan, as the advanced post of the United States' 
forces on the right bank of the Mississippi, during the invasion of 
Louisiana, by the British, in 1814 and 1815; that the saw mill men- 
tioned in general Morgan's deposition, and the bridge of the canal, 
and all the lumber and scantling on the place, were burnt on the 8th 
of January, 1815, as the British forces retreated; and as the enemy 
tore up and destroyed by fire the platforms of my batteries in that 
neighborhood, I have every reason to suppose that he also burned 
the said saw mill and lumber, for the reasons so as aforesaid stated 
by general Morgan. I declare further, that 1 have never granted 
any certificate on this subject, except a former one given on the 30th 
of November, 1816, similar in its purport and object to the present, 
and in support precisely, of this same claim, which said certificate, 
from the information of the claimant, has been transmitted to Sam- 
uel II. Harper, Esquire, for the purpose of presentation to the gov- 
ernment. 

DANL. T. PATTERSOX, 
Captain U. S. JS'*ovy, commanding 

JYVrt; Orleans station. 
Done ferfefore us, 

Edwin Lorrain, 

John M^ Lonogh. 



5th. Appeared befure us, Luther Howe, who being sv/orn Itv* 
an oath in due form, first administered by Edwin Lorrain, deposeih 
and saith, that he hath no interest, directly or indirectly in the claim 
now before these commissioners; that during the invasion of Louisi- 
ana by the British in 1814<and 1815,and several years previous there- 
to, he was overseer of the plantation called the Belvidere, as also 
of the saw mill belonging thereto; that during the said invasion, the 
said saw mill, the dwelling house, and out baiidings were occupied 
by the American troops, by the orders of thtir commanding officer 
general David B. Morgan, as a militarv post, as deposits for military 
stores, and as barrcks for the military forces of the United States; 
that on the 8th day of January, at the time of the enemy's retreat, 
the saw mill aforesaid, as also the bridge which crossed the canal, 



16 [61] 

together With a large quantity ofhimber, consisting of cypress boards, 
plank, timber, and slabs, rennaming on hand from two sawing sea- 
sons, were set on fire and thereby totally destroyed, and to the best of 
deponent's knowledge and belief, the property aforesaid was set on 
fire by the British troops, for the causes and motives mentioned in 
the foregoing deposition of general Morgan; and the defendant fur* 
ther states, that during the occupation as aforesaid of the said place, 
the articles hereinafter mentioned belonging to the claimant, were 
within this deponent's knowledge, he being in service in that quarter, 
taken for the use and subsistence of the American army, and thereby 
lost, consumed, or destroyed; that the two subjoined statements of 
damage, the one amounting to twelve hundred and ninety-eight dol- 
lars fifty cents, and the other to fourteen thousand six hundred dol- 
lars, is just and true, both in respect to the enumeration of articles 
and the estimation thereof; that the plank was sawed and measured 

by the deponent. 

Estimate of loss occasioned by the Americans, 

Sheds and bedding S 60, crockery ware S20, 6 chairs Sl5, 

Stables Sl8, 1 writing desk ^20, 3 trunks clothing Sl50 283 

Kitchen furniture ^20. 12 spades, 12 hoes, and 4 axes g62, 
1 chest of carpenter's tools S 100, lanterns and lamps 
S9 25, - - ... 191 25 

^ barrel of molasses 16 gUs. at 75 cents S 12, 42 lbs. coffee 
at 37^ S 4 50, .^0 lbs. bacon at 12i gC 25, 1 pair of steel 
yards'SB, lampoil S3 50 - - - 34 25 

16 cords of wood at S3 S45, 1000 pickets taken from fen- 
ces at 10 cts. S 100, expense of replacing ditto S 75, 60 jO 
feet of plank burnt and destroyed by guards stationed 
near the mill, estimated at 4 cents per foot S240, 2000 
slabs S 80, - - - - - - 540 

Damage done the house and out buidings §200, 2 planta- 
tion boats S 50 - - . - - 250 

1,298 50 



Estimate of loss occasioned hy the enemy, 

A saw mill complete with all the materials and utensils belonging 
thereto, estimated at what it cost to rebuild the same, six thousand 
dollars (including bridge,) 200,000 feet of cypress boards at S4, eight 
thousand dollars, 12,000 feet of scantling at S 5, six hundred dollars, 
making a sum total of fourteen thousand six hundred dollars, which^ 
added to the former sum of twelve hundred and ninety-eight d()l- 
lars and fittv cents, makes the damage suffered, amount to 15,898 

dollars 50 cents. 

L. HOWE. 

Done before us 

Edwin Lorrain, 

John M'-DcTiC'-'h. 



[61] 



17 



6th» Appeared before us Samuel Packwood, who being sworn 
by an oath in due form, first administered by Edwin Lorrain, depo- 
seth and saith, that he hath no interest, directly or indirectly, in the 
claim now before these commisioners; that he has been personally 
acquainted with Luther Howe, who has signed the foregoing depo- 
sition, upwards of four years last past, and believes him to be a man 
of veracity, and otherwise of good moral character, and that his de- 
position aforesaid, is entided to full faith and credit; and the depo* 
nent further saith, that within his knowledge, the saw mill, lumber, 
and out buildings, belonging to Thadeus Mayhew, were destroyed 
on his plantation called the Belvidere, by fire and otherwise, daring 
*he invasion of Louisiana by the British in 1814and 1815. 

SAMUEL PACKWOOD, 

Done before us, 

Edwin Lorraiitf 
John M^l)o7iQgh* 



7th. Appeare(§-before William Flood, who being svirorn by an 
oath in due form, first administered by Edwin Lorrain, deposeth and 
suith, that he hath no interest, directly or indirectly in the claim now 
before these commissioners; that he has known Luther Howe, one of 
the witnesses above taken, for several years, and believes him to be 
?i man of strict integrity, and entitled to full confidence and credit; 
and further, that the deponent believes that the affidavit to which the 
said Luther Howe's name is subscribed, is true and just. 

WILLIAM FLOOD. 

Done bef)re u«;, 

Edwin Lorrain, 
John M DonogJu 



8th. At the close of the testimony in this case, the claimant re- 
quested us to note a mistake committed by the commissioner in the 
schedule annexed to his commission, from which it appears that the 
whole demand of the claimant in the premises, amounts to fourteen 
thousand six hundred dollars, whereas hi^ demand alone for losses 
:cnsioned by the tv/f/«z/ is for that sum, and he claims afterwards, 



3 



18 [6FJ 

over and above tliat sum, one thousand two hundred and ninety-cight 
dollars 50 cents, for losses occasioned by the Jimerkan army^ as ap- 
pearing in the preceding testimony, and the claimant took this op- 
portunity of declaring and protesting before us, that he had yet a 
further claim to advance against the United States on the present 
subject, which he wished to be understcx)d as not comprehended in 
the present claim or concluded by its determination; that the claim 
to which he refers is this, to wit: that he is entitled to one year's re- 
venue of his saw mill, inasmuch as its destruction took place at a 
time when it was impossible for itto be rebuilt soon enough to meet 
the operations of the ensuing season. But the previous opinion of. 
the commissioner or Secretarj'- of War against such a claim, advanc- 
ed as it would be, on the authority of a grant made by Congress to 
Jacques Villen, will be deemed conclusive by this claimant. 

Til ADS. MAYHEW. 

Done before us, 

Edxom Lorroin^ 
John M'Denogh, 



Wei the undersigned commiss'oners, have carefully examined 
the witnesses produced before us in the fort going claim of Thadeus 
Mayhew, and now return our commissioo, together with x>ur pro- 
ceedings thereon, which we hereby certify under our hands, at New 
Orleans, this 23d day of May, in the year \o\7 

EDWIN LORRAIN, 

JOHN M'DONOGII, 

Comtnissioners* 



It has been impossible for me to attend the examination of the 
^witnesses in support of the above claim of Mr Mayhew, but from the 
ample testimony produced, I am satisfied no change would have re- 
sulted from cross examination; it appears to be very clear. 

J. LIN BANFF. 



Treasury Department ^ 

3<^ Auditor's Office, ^ov, 20, 1817» 
SIE, 

I have received your letter of the 19th inst. requesting to be 
ipformed whether anv payment has been made through the Depart-* 



« 



[60 



19 



mcnt of War to Thadeua Mayhew, for the destruction of his proper- 
ty below New Orleans, on the 8th of January, 1815, by the enemy 
during the late war. In reply to which I have to state, that no pro- 
vision having been made by law in this case, no payment has been 
made at this Department. 

I am Sir, 

With great respect. 

Your most obedient servant, 

PETER HAGNER, Aud. 
Mtchard B. Lee. Esqr, 

Commissioner cf Cjlaims. 



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